Composer Ricky Ian Gordon had a dream project: an opera about lower-east-side immigrant life in New York in the early 20th Century, with the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire at its center. But for ten years, the work was stalled again and again. Now, the Cincinnati Opera is giving Ricky one last chance to bring his labor of love to life. Will Morning Star finally see the light of day?

Director’s & Producer’s Statement: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert

We are not opera fans. We had never been to an opera together. When the opportunity arose to film the process of work-shopping a new American opera, we said yes immediately. It was thrilling to be on the inside of the big, collaborative group as it coalesced. We gradually realized that the voluble, funny Ricky Ian Gordon was the spark plug of the team, and he became our main character.

From esteemed documentarian Steven Bognar, a close-up look at two men alone at night in a huge, empty foundry. In fiery light and heat, they work with enormous drums of molten metal to create the frames of every Steinway piano, in what could be the last gasp for industrial jobs in America.

Director’s Statement: Steven Bognar

When journalist and NPR correspondent Noah Adams told me about the nighttime foundry near our small Ohio town, I didn’t quite believe it. But wandering around this cavernous space, watching these two men run a massive operation, inspired real awe.

Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert document the final days of projecting movies on 35mm celluloid film at the weathered Little Art Theatre (which bears a striking resemblance to Ashland’s own Varsity Theatre). With the takeover of digital projection all but complete, we can only look behind to appreciate the warmth and magic of light passing through images.

Director’s Statement: Steven Bognar

The end of celluloid movies is very emotional for some of us. As a former projectionist, the smell, sight, and touch of film conjures deep nostalgia. When we heard our local art house was making the switch to digital, we knew we had to burrow into that musty old projection booth for one last inhale of the stuff that dreams are made of.

Cuban-born painter Carmen Herrera is approaching her 100th birthday,
but that doesn’t stop her from continuing to work in her modern style of geometric forms and bright colors. A pioneering abstract painter in the 40s and 50s, she only recently found the recognition that eluded her for most of her career.

Director’s Statement: Alison Klayman

For anyone with an artistic career or who is undertaking long-term pursuits that may or may not “pay off” in the conventional sense, the question persists: what makes you keep going? And how do you do it without external validation? Carmen’s life is an example of pursuing passion and art for its own sake, because you simply feel compelled. Coming off of my first documentary feature film, the question of how to make art a lifelong dedication was constantly on my mind. I feel lucky to have spent that critical period of reflection with Carmen.